Portraits, Self Portraits, and Masks

by Simran Singh Gleason

I take it as an artistic goal of mine to be able to draw
portraits well. To be able to capture likeness in a few lines. To
be able to capture a feeling, an expression. These are difficult
tasks. I have a long way to go.

I find self portraits are easier for me. Perhaps because I spend more
time drawing self portraits than portraits of others. I've heard it
said that everything an artist draws is a self portrait in some
way. Even landscapes?

I guess you could say this is quite a revealing show for me. Here are
some of my self portraits, and several series of masks that I have
been drawing. I am beginning to become obsessed with the idea of
masks. As overlays to persona. As primal invocations of deep
elementals. A way to hide. A way to come out into society; to
contribute.